RUMOURS have long been circulating that Prince Harry is set to ask for her hand in marriage, but according to reports Cressida Bonas has told friends she isn't ready to settle down.

The graduate, who has made a few public appearance alongside the handsome prince recently, is said to be focusing on her ambition to become a successful dancer and is worried that she would have to give it up if she joined the royal family.

The 25-year-old, who was seen costing up to her man at Wembley Arena last Friday during the UK's first We Day celebration, apparently confided in pals, revealing that she is wrestling with a future between her boyfriend and a possible stage career.

“The bookies have been offering odds of 8/13 on an engagement this year but based on what she has told everyone, I would say it’s less than evens that anything will happen this year," a friend told the Daily Mirror.

The pair have been made a couple of public appearances lately [GETTY]

The 25-year-old is said to be focusing on her career ambitions at the moment [GETTY]

“People talk to her all the time about Harry and she gets quite cross and says ‘I don’t want to get married yet’.

Rumours of an engagement surfaced after it was reported that 29-year-old Harry was planning to whisk Cressida to Balmoral - the same retreat Prince William took Kate Middleton before announcing their engagement a month later.

However, it has been revealed that the red-headed royal is more than happy to wait until she is ready.

“If it was up to Harry he would get married straight away but he is very sensitive about her on this particular issue,” said a source. “Harry has told her he will wait.”

Cressida - who has been dating Harry for the past two years - joined Harry on two royal engagements last week, including a loved-up appearance at Twickenham Rugby Stadium.

The pair have been incredibly private throughout their relationship previously, often dodging cameras and walking ahead of one another.

Friends of Cressida have said that Harry is willing to wait until she is ready [TIM STEWART]

However, friends revealed that the appearance wasn't as big a deal as everyone has made out.

Speaking to The Telegraph, a friend said: "I don’t think they did it to make a statement, it just happened, it was a natural development."

Friends say that her reluctance to be photographed is more to do with a lifelong shyness than anything else, and that in recent months she has decided to “get a grip” and accept the inevitable.

Harry is said to be whisking Cressida off to Balmoral soon [PA]

Cressida and Harry have been dating for two years [REX]

Cressida, who works in marketing, is said to have turned down lucrative modelling jobs because she believes she is wanted only for her royal connections.

“Her life and her career are on hold because of the relationship with Harry,” said a close friend. “She wants to be a dancer, she loves the stage, absolutely loves it, it’s like a virus that has really got into her system and she is wrestling with the problem of how to square that circle.”